The Significance of Grading Your Diamonds Loose

The most important factor that
you may consider while choosing a diamond ring will be the quality of the
stones on it. After all, diamonds are the most expensive elements in a ring and
you are likely to spend a good share of your savings on it. To ensure the
quality of the diamonds on your ring, make sure that your sparkler comes with a
grading report. Note that you consider only a credible third party grading
report like GIA diamond
grading certificate or similar options for accurate results.
Additionally, the parameters that are used to grade diamonds when it comes to GIA certification may not be
the same for other options. So, having an in-depth idea regarding the things
that you must look for in grading report before you set out on your diamond
shopping is important.

It is to be noted
that the quality of a diamond is mainly determined on the basis of four
factors; the cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. All these factors will be
documented in a grading report. Even an untrained eye can easily assess the
quality of his/her diamonds by going through the grading report. However, the
reliability of your diamond grading report may change depending on how the
diamonds are graded. It is to be noted that grading diamonds loose is always
better than grading them after setting on a ring since the former yield more
accurate results.

In some diamond certificates, you
would have seen the term, ‘graded in the mounting’. This indicates the stone
was graded whiteout taking it off the mounting. The term is used to point out
that the diamond may not reflect the exact qualities as mentioned on the
certificate. Of course, an appraiser or a diamond grading personnel will not be
able to evaluate the exact qualities of a set diamond since some of its areas
will be covered by its metal settings. Note that the inclusions and flaws of
some gemstones will be located at its pavilion portion, which will be usually
encased by a metal. Hence, a grading professional may give an excellent clarity
grade to that diamond, which actually is flawed.

Furthermore, the color tone of
metal bands poses a huge impact of the color quality of the diamond mounted on
it. That is, the warm tone of yellow gold, rose gold, antique gold, etc., tend
to mask the color tints in diamonds making it look colorless. Likewise, the
mirror-like reflection of lighter colored metals such as platinum, white gold,
etc., tend to enhance the color quality of diamonds making a brilliant diamond
look extremely brilliant.

In the same way, the mounting and
diamond ring settings can affect the cut quality and carat weight of diamonds
as well. Hence, you are likely to get a poor quality diamond, which is graded
excellent, when you choose a diamond that is ‘graded in the mounting’. In other
words, you will have to pay for the diamond qualities that it does not actually
have. On the other hand, a diamond that is graded loose will reflect the same
qualities as documented in its grading report. Hence, always remove your
diamonds before appraising or grading it. If you are worried about your diamond
being damaged in between the process, go to a reputed jewelry store where you
can witness the entire process.